Remote plastic dispensing head with fluid level actuated expansion chamber shut off

ABSTRACT

A remote dispensing head for use in a system operating at atmospheric pressure for dispensing heated fluid has a housing formed by a base having means thereon for connecting the dispensing head to a counter or like point of use, and an annular plastic body member connected to the base to form an expansion chamber in the housing, the housing may include valve means for controlling the flow of fluid from a given source to the dispensing system and a discharge means such as the spout operatively associated with a discharge passage in the base connected to the system to pass fluid from the system to the spout for discharge to use, and a cross passage means in the base provides communication between the lower portion of the expansion chamber and the discharge passage to permit expansion fluid to expand into the expansion chamber, and means operable responsive to the level of the expansion fluid in the expansion chamber will act to close off the cross passage means when the expansion fluid reaches a predetermined minimum level.

United States Patent 1 Dreibelbis [451 Sept. 17, 1974 REMOTE PLASTICDISPENSING HEAD WITH FLUID LEVEL ACTUATED EXPANSION CHAMBER SHUT OFF[75] Inventor: Richard C. Dreibelbis, Fairlawn,

[73] Assignee: Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, Mo.

[22] Filed: Apr. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 352,972

[52] US. Cl. 222/66, 222/193 [51] Int. Cl B67d 5/08 [58] Field of Search222/66, 146 HE, 193, 335;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,656,849 10/1953 Deatricket al. 222/66 X 3,202,321 8/1965 Homeyer 222/108 PrimaryExaminer-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-John P. ShannonAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Daniel H. Bobis l5 7 ABSTRACT A remotedispensing head for use in a system operating at atmospheric pressurefor dispensing heated fluid has a housing formed by a base having meansthereon for connecting the dispensing head to a counter or like point ofuse, and an annular plastic body member connected to the base to form anexpansion chamber in the housing, the housing may include valve meansfor controlling the flow of fluid from a given source to the dispensingsystem and a discharge means such as the spout operatively associatedwith a discharge passage in the base connected to the system to passfluid from the system to the spout for discharge to use, and a crosspassage means in the base provides communication between the lowerportion of the expansion chamber and the discharge passage to permitexpansion fluid to expand into the expansion chamber, and means operableresponsive to the level of the expansion fluid in the expansion chamberwill act to close off the cross passage means when the expansion fluidreaches a predetermined minimum level.

22 Claims, 24 Drawing Figures REMOTE PLASTIC DISPENSING HEAD WITH FLUIDLEVEL ACTUATED EXPANSION CHAMBER SHUT OFF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates generally to hot water heating and dispensingapparatus and systems operating at atmospheric pressure in which thedispensing means is disposed remote from the storage and heating meansfor the water to be dispensed and more particularly to an improvedremote plastic dispensing head.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,321 a hot water heating and dispensing apparatusoperating at atmospheric pressure is shown having a remote dispensinghead. The remote dispensing head is so characterized because it isdisposed remotely with respect to the storage and heating means for thewater to be dispensed from the system. In particular, the remotedispensing head as disclosed in this patent is so arranged and connectedthat the dispensing head functions in the capacity of an over flowcontrol device and also as a means to control the discharge of heatedwater as needed. Thus, this remote dispensing head of U.S. Pat. No.3,202,321 is provided with a vented expansion chamber calibrated for apredetermined volumeric capacity depending largely on the temperature ofthe cold water to be introduced into the system. The expansion chamberwill compensate for excessive fluid expansion within the storage andheating chamber of the system and further includes a discharge openingor spout so positioned that it permits discharge of excessive expansionwater when the volumeric capacity of the system is exceeded.

A remote dispensing head as above described accumulates expansion waterin the expansion chamber and this expansion water is aspirated whenheated water is discharged through the discharge spout during normaloperation of the hot water heating and dispensing apparatus.

While this construction operates effectively, it has been found thatafter the expansion water is emptied from the expansion chamber that theaspirating means continues to function. This acts to draw air from thevented expansion chamber into the heated water being discharged from thesystem.

This induced or aspirated air acts adversely in the discharging heatedwater because it disrupts the uniformity of the stream and createsturbulence therein due to the induced air and second it acts to reducethe temperature of the heated water which is delivered for use.

These problems have been overcome heretofore by the use of a flowstraightener in the discharge spout of the dispensing head and byraising the temperature of the heated water delivered to the dischargespout to compensate for the heat loss occurring due to aspiration of airduring operation.

The present invention overcomes these same problems by preventingaspiration of air through the expansion chamber after the expansionwater has been aspirated from the expansion chamber.

This is accomplished by a float means responsive to the level of theexpansion fluid in the expansion cham ber of the remote dispensing headwhich float means seals the cross passage means so as to shut off theaspi ration or flow of expansion water into the heated water beingdischarged after the expansion water reaches a predetermined minimumlevel in the expansion chamber.

Further, however, because the remote dispensing head as shown in U.S.Pat. No. 3,202,321 was the only visible portion of the system it wasimportant that it have a pleasingly appearance from the eye of theconsumer. Since the remote dispensing head included, an expansionchamber sized to meet the volumeric requirements of the dispensingsystem, the remote dispensing head was large and costly because of thematerials required to withstand the corrosive and errosive effects ofthe heater water being dispensed therefrom or collected therein. Forexample, such dispensing heads were made of brass alloy or similarmaterials and were generally chrome plated to provide the desiredappearance characteristics of fixtures of this type.

It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide animproved dispensing head which is made of less costly materials andwhich will accomplish the same end results as the prior art remote typedispensing head shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,321.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, the present invention covers an improvedremote substantially all plastic dispensing head for use in a system fordispensing water at atmospheric conditions which includes, a housinghaving a base with means thereon to connect the dispensing head to acounter or like point of use, an annular plastic member connected to thebase for forming an expansion chamber in said housing, spout means onthe dispensing head communicates with a discharge passage therein forpassing heated water from the system to the spout means, and atransverse passage means therein connects the expansion chamber to thedischarge passage which includes an aspirating means to enable expansionfluid to pass into the expansion chamber during static conditions of thesystem and to be aspirated from the expansion chamber when heated wateris discharged from the system through the dispensing spout, and meansoperatively associated with said transverse passage means is operable toclose the passage when the level of the expansion fluid in the expansionchamber reaches a predetermined minimum.

These and other objects of the invention will become clear to thoseskilled in the art when the description herein is considered inconnection with the following drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a sink enclosure in vertical section having a hot waterheating and dispensing apparatus mounted therein in side elevation witha portion in vertical section.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the jacketed storageand heating assembly of the system of FIG. 1 with a fragmentarycross-section of the insulated casing to show the location of thestorage and heating unit therein.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the thermostatically operatedheating circuit for the storage and heating units.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a remote dispensing head in accordance withthe present invention with a portion thereof shown in dotted form.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 55 of FIG. 4 with an enlargedview of the inlet valve and associated valve head arrangements.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the remote dispensing head in FIG. inpartial vertical section to show the guide means for the liquid levelshut off arrangement.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a partial vertical section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the annular plastic member of the housingin partial vertical section.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the annular plastic member shown in FIG.10.

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the annular plastic member shown inFIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the lower section of the expansionchamber formed in the annular plastic member shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a cross-section taken on line l414 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the base member for the form of theinvention shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 16 is a fragment of the sink enclosure shown in FIG. 1 in verticalsection showing an alternate form of remote dispensing head for a hotwater heating and dispensing system with only the connecting line to thesystem visible.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the alternate form of remote dispensinghead shown in FIG. 16 with a portion thereof shown in dotted form.

FIG. 18 is a side elevation of the alternate form of remote dispensinghead shown in FIG. 16 in partial vertical section along line 18l8 ofFIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary vertical section of the annular plastic memberandbase member for the alternate form of remote dispensing head shown inFIG. 16 taken at line 19-19 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a side elevation of the annular plastic member in partialvertical section for the alternate form of remote dispensing head shownin FIG. 16.

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the annular plastic member shown in FIG.16.

FIG. 22 is a bottom plan view of the annular plastic member shown inFIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of a fragment of the bottom section of theannular plastic member shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the base member for the form of theinvention shown in FIGS. 17, 18 and 19.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a sink enclosure having a sink Sand a counter C which provides means for holding a remote dispensinghead generally designated 10 in accordance with the present invention.

The remote dispensing head 10 is associated with a hot water heating anddispensing systemwhich includes a jacketed storage and heating unitgenerally designated 12 and conduit means which connect these elementsto each other and to a source of pressurized cold water from the coldwater mains (not shown) of conventional water supply systems.

The jacketed water heater assembly 12 is supportably mounted on bracketswithin the sink enclosure in spaced relation to and therefore remotefrom the operating or functional dispensing head 10 for the hot waterheating and dispensing system.

The jacketed heater assembly consists of a storage tank 13 having aheater element 14 therein which is automatically operated to maintainwater stored in the storage tank at a predetermined temperature. Heatingof water in storage tank 13 is controlled by means of the thermostatassembly 15 having an element 16 operably connected to a switch 17. Theterminals of switch 17 are connected to a source of electric circuit forfeeding the electric heating means or heating element 14. The switch 17includes a calibrating mechanism as at 18 f0 adjusting the switchsetting to maintain a predetermined water temperature within the storagetank 13. The electrical connections to the heating element 14 andthermostat assembly 15 are shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings and theentire heating system will not be more fully described because it iswell known in the art as indicated in US. Pat. Nos. 3,202,321; 2,903,551and 3,651,491.

The storage and heating sink 13 in the jacketed water heater assembly 12communicates with the remote dispensing head 10 and to the source ofwater to be heated through a plurality of lines and conduits as will nowbe described.

Thus, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 an inlet conduit is shown at 20 whichcommunicates at one end with a source of water to be heated anddispensed and at the other end communicates with and is connected to aninlet port 21 formed in the base 22 of the dispensing head 10.

Suitable valve assembly means generally designated 23 has a valve head24 which normally maintains the inlet port 21 closed by means of valvespring 25 and the valve head 24 is connected through a valve stem 26 toa manually rotatable cap 27 operatively associated with a cam assemblygenerally designated 28 so that on manual rotation of the cap 27 thevalve stem 26 will raise valve head 24 off inlet port 21 to open theinlet port.

A valve chamber 29 in the base 22 about inlet port 21 communicates withan outlet passage 30 to communication with a transfer conduit 31 whichis connected at one end to the base 22 and is connected at the endremote therefrom to the bottom of storage and heating tank 13 so thatwater can pass from the inlet port 21 through the valve chamber 29 andoutlet port 30 to the transfer conduit 31 whenever the inlet port 21 isopen.

Heated fluid will be displaced from the storage and heating tank 13whenever inlet port 21 is opened because the water from the conventionalwater system is delivered at pressures higher than the atmosphericpressure at which this sytem operates.

Thus, heated water will be displaced from the upper end of the storageand heating tank 13 through discharge conduits 32 connected at one endto the upper end of tank 13 and at the end remote therefrom to adischarge passage 33 in the base member 22 of the remote dispensing head10.

A curved spout 34 connected to the discharge passage 33 provides meansfor discharging the heated fluid from the system. i

The system above described is known in the prior art as is shown anddescribed in US. Pat. No. 3,202,321 and therefore is not more fullydescribed herein.

REMOTE DISPENSING HEAD The hot water heating and dispensing system ofthe present invention differs from that shown in US. Pat.

No. 3,202,321 in that it provides an improved remote dispensing headwhich will now be more fully described.

In FIGS. 5 to 14 of the drawings the remote dispensing head 10 is shownto be generally cylindrical in shape.

It includes a base member 22 and an annular plastic member 41 which fitssnugly into engagement with the base member 22, the curved spout 34 andthe cap or cover member 27 which is mounted for rotation on the annularbody member 41 for actuating the valve assembly 23 as has been abovedescribed and which valve assembly, cam assembly 28 and rotatable cap isalso more fully shown and described in the said U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,321.

The base member 22 may be molded, forged or fabricated in any suitablemanner and will generally be made of any suitable alloy or othermaterial which will withstand the corrosive and errosive effect of theheated water being dispensed. Further, base member must have adequatestrength to securely connect and support the dispensing head 10 on thecounter C of the sink enclosure as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 of thedrawings. Brass alloys and chrome nickel alloys illustrate some of thematerials adapted to meet these requirements of the base member.

The base member 22 has a main body portion forming a cylindrical section42 and extending therefrom parallel to the longitudinal line of thedispensing head 10 is a projection 43 of a lesser diameter than that ofthe cylindrical section so that it forms a stop shoulder 44 on the loweror under side of the cylindrical section. Projection 43 is threaded asat 45 and will be sized so that it fits through an opening 47 in thecounter C against which the shoulder 44 abuts when the base member andthe dispensing head 10 is mounted in its operating or functionalposition so that a lock washer 47a is adapted to engage the under sideof the counter and a threaded member such as nut 48 when threaded ontothe projection 43 will lock or firmly attach the base member and thedispensing head of which it forms a part into its operating orfunctional position.

A gasket means 49 is provided between the shoulder 44 and the uppersurface of counter C as is shown in FIG. 5.

The inlet port 21, outlet port 30 and discharge passage 33 extendthrough the projection 43 and the cylindrical section 42 of the basemember so that the associated conduits20, 31 and 32 can be connected tothe projection 43 to provide the necessary communication of thedispensing head 10 with the heated water storage assembly 12 as is shownin FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawings.

The cylindrical section 42 is further provided with bores therethroughas at 50, 51 and 52 to permit threaded members 53 to extend therethroughfor engagement with threaded bores as at 54, 55 and 56 formed on bosses57, 58 and 59 on a cored central section 60 of the annular plasticmember 41.

Annular plastic member or element 41 is molded or fabricated from aplastic material such as acrylic butadiene styrene (ABS) or any othersuitable easily adaptable plastic material which is chemically inert andhence can withstand the corrosive and errosive effect of the heatedwater being dispensed.

The annular plastic member or element 41 will be coated or decorated inany suitable manner such as with a chrome finish, a gold finish or abrass finish ane plastic material which are capable of being molded orcoated in the manner above indicated are a known expedient in theplumbing fixture art so that variations thereof will be understood bythose skilled in the art.

In order to bring the annular plastic member 41 into fluid tightengagement with the cylindrical section of the base member 22, the coredsection 60 of the annular member 41 is counter-sunk as at 61 and betweenthe inner face 62 of the counter-sunk opening 61 and the upper face ofthe cylindrical section 42 a gasket 63 is provided so that when thethreaded attaching members 54, 55 and 56 are drawn up snuggly theannular plastic member 41 and the cylindrical section 42 of base member22 will form an expansion chamber generally designated 65 in thedispensing head 10.

An upwardly extending projection 66 disposed substantially in thelongitudinal line of the expansion chamber 65 has a longitudinal bore 67along the length thereof which is in alignment with inlet port 21 and issized to receive the valve assembly means 23 therein as is shown in FIG.5 of the drawings.

The valve assembly means includes a spring back up 68 which is threadedas at 69 to permit a cap 70 to be connected and to hold the valveassembly 23 in assembled position. The cap 70 is providedwith a valvestem guide 71 through which the portion of the valve stem 26 remote fromthe valve head 10 thereof extends for engagement with and to hold themanually rotatable cap or cover member 27 so that in assembled positionthe cover member will hold the cam assembly 28 between the mouth or openend 72 of the annular plastic member 41 and the under side of the cap orcover 27 all of which is clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 8 of thedrawings.

The mouth or open end 72 of the plastic member 41 is cut away about theopen end as at 73 and the cap or cover member extends down and titsabout this portion of the annular plastic member 41 to both conceal thecam assembly and the open end 72 thereof and to provide a more pleasantappearance to the dispensing head 10.

It is thought clear that the open end 72 of the annular plastic member41 is also the upper end of the expansion chamber 65 and therefore actsto vent the expansion chamber 65 to the ambient conditions oftemperature and pressure of the atmosphere in which the sink enclosureis disposed and as will be clear from the description which follows withrespect tothe function of the expansion chamber will also serve to ventthe entire hot water heating and dispensing system to atmosphere ofwhich the remote dispensing head 10 is a part.

Towards the upper end of the annular plastic member 41 in the sidethereof a spout boss isformed with extends into and joins or is formedintegrally with the upstanding longitudinally disposed member 66. Thisarrangement adds strength to the annular plastic member and supports theupstanding projection 66.

The spout boss 80 is provided with a spout bore 81 into which one end ofthe curved spout 34 extends as is shown in FIG. 5. The end of the spout34 in the spout bore 81 is provided with an annular groove 82 in whichan O-ring 83 is mounted to provide a fluid tight seal between the spout34 and the spout bore 81 as is clearly shown at FIG. 5 of the drawings.

By reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 10 it can be seen that the inner end ofspout bore 81 communicates through a passage 84 with the dischargepassage 33. Thus, when heated water is displaced from the storage andheating tank 13 it is passed through discharge conduit 32, dischargepassage 33 connected thereto and connecting passage 84 into the spoutbore 81 for discharge through the spout 34 to use.

In order to allow for expansion of heated water in the storage andheating tank 13 particularly when the system is at static conditions fora lengthly period of time a balancing port 85 disposed at the lowermostpoint of the expansion chamber 65 communicates with a balancing passage86. At static conditions when heated water expands into the dischargeconduit 32 and discharge passage 33 it will pass through the balancingpassage 86 and balancing port 85 into the expansion chamber 65.

By reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, it can be seen that the spout means 34connecting passage 84, discharge passage 33, balancing passage 86,balancing port 85 and the expansion chamber 65 will act like a U-tubewith respect to the expansion water which collects in the expansionchamber 65 during static conditions. The spout means 34 is so designedthat if the expansion water exceeds the volumeric capacity of the spout,the passages and the expansion chamber then further expansion fluid willbe discharged from the system through the spout by reason of thedifference in the level of the upper surface of the expansion chamber 65and that of the spout opening.

When heated water is displaced from the storage and heating tank 13 thevelocity of the discharging water passing through the discharge passage33 will aspirate the expansion water collected in the expansion chamber65 through the balancing port 85 and balancing passage 86 connectedthereto.

In the absence of any means to prevent aspiration, this will continueeven after the expansion water is emptied from expansion chamber 65 andair would normally be inducted into the heated water being dischargedfrom the system similar to the manner of the operation of the hot waterheating and dispensing system shown in US. Pat. No. 3,202,321 and thesame disadvantages of that system would be encountered.

However, in the present construction, a shut off arrangement is providedto prevent this from occurring.

SHUT OFF ASSEMBLY The shut off assembly is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 9 and 11to 14 of the drawings as including a float guide 90 and a float means 91in the form of a cork or plastic ball having a specific gravity lessthan that of the fluid or hot water which will expand into the expansionchamber 65.

The float guide is an elongated tube like member which is fixedlyconnected at one end into the cored section 60 about the balancing port85 for the expansion chamber 65. The elongated float guide extendsupwardly in the expansion chamber 65 parallel to the longitudinal linethereof and has a length of approximately equal to that of the expansionchamber so that the upper end terminates in the line of the rim of theopen or mouth end 72 of the annular plastic member 41.

The float guide has an elongated slit 92 in the side thereof which is incontinuous communication with the expansion chamber 65.

Thus, when fluid expands into the expansion chamber it will enterthrough the continuous slit 92 and fill the inside of the tube so thatthe float member disposed therein will rise and fall as the level of thefluid in the expansion chamber varies. All of which is shown in FIGS. 6,9 and 10 of the drawings.

By reference to FIG. 9 the balancing port is shown to have a specialbalancing port seat as at 94 which will be shaped so that the floatmeans will snuggly engage the said seat 94 and close off the balancingport when the level of the expansion fluid reaches the predeterminedminimum point established by the balancing port seat 94 in the expansionchamber.

Thus, when the system is in operation at static conditions, expansionfluid can enter through the balancing port and fill the expansionchamber as above described. However, when the heated water is displacedand passes through the discharge conduit and discharge passage to thespout member 34 as has been above described and the expansion fluid isaspirated from the expansion chamber this will continue only until theexpansion fluid reaches a predetermined minimum level where the floatmeans 91 will seat on the balancing port seat 94 as is illustrated atFIGS. 7 and 9 of the drawings.

The operation will prevent the aspiration of any further expansion fluidor more particularly air that might cause turbulence or cool thedischarging heated water from the storage and heating tank of thesystem.

In order to prevent leakage between the various ports and passages inthe system the annular plastic member is provided with a sealing ridge98 as is shown at FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings. This sealing ridgemay be molded on the plastic member and will provide the necessarydelineation between the various ports, passages and chambers whichpermit the improved operation of the dispensing head as above describedand the operative association between the annular plastic member and thebase member to provide the one form of improved remote dispensing headin accordance with the present invention.

ALTERNATE FORM OF REMOTE DISPENSING HEAD In FIGS. 15 to 21 an alternateform of remote dispensing head is disclosed which in appearance issubstantially identical to the form of the present invention as abovedescribed. It differs in that expansion fluid collected in the expansionchamber of the remote dispensing head will be aspirated with theincoming fluid or water which is being delivered to the storage andheating tank 13 of the hot water heating and dispensing system.

This arrangement has advantages over the first described form of theinvention in that aspirated fluid from the expansion chamber willtransfer some portion of its heat content to the incoming raw fluid orraw water instead of cooling heated water which the system isdispensing.

Thus, in this alternate form of remote dispensing head, as shown inFIGS. 15 to 22, the incoming raw fluid or raw water; always at anambient temperature cooler than the heated water in the system; willwhile mixing with the expansion fluid being aspirated recover some ofthe heat in the expansion fluid until the temperature of the aspiratedfluid and the incoming fluid are equalized.

While this heat content is relatively small, it has an economic or costadvantage as compared with the effect that is produced when thedischarging heated water is cooled by the aspirated expansion water asdescribed for the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 14 of thedrawings. The cooling of the heated water being discharged requires thatthe discharging heated water be raised to a higher temperature to offsetthe cooling effect of the expansion water. This increases the cost ofoperating a unit which aspirates expansion fluid or water with theheated fluid being discharged or dispensed by the system.

Thus, referring to FIG. 15 only a portion of a hot water heating anddispensing system is shown including the alternate form of remotedispensing head generally designated 100. Only a portion of the systemis shown because the remote dispensing head 100 is used in the same hotwater heating and dispensing system as has been above described and asis shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,321. Accordingly, it is not deemednecessary to redescribe this system to show the application thereto ofthe remote dispensing head 100 and the like parts have been given thesame character numeral to show this identity.

Further, remote dispensing head 100 is identical in exterior appearanceto that of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 14 and exceptfor those changes in the construction of the annular plastic member thatare required to permit the system to aspirate collected expansion fluidfrom the expansion chamber in the remote dispensing head 100 by incomingfluid passing to the storage and heating unit 13. Remote dispensing head100 is otherwise identical to the construction of the remote dispensinghead and like parts will accordingly be given the same characternumerals with a character letter added also for the purpose of showingthis identity. The difference in the manner in which these parts areconnected to produce the difference in operation for this alternate formof remote dispensing head will now be described.

Thus, FIGS. 17 and 18 show that the remote dispensing head 100 includes,an annular plastic member 41a and a base member 22a.

The base member 220 is similar in construction and form to base member22 of the remote dispensing head 10 and accordingly will not be furtherdescribed.

However, dispensing head 100 and its associated annular plastic member41a differ from the dispensing head 10 in that the expansion chamber 65aformed in the dispensing head 100 when the annular plastic member 41a isconnected to the base member 22a receives expansion fluid from the inletside assembly for delivering raw incoming water or other fluid to thestorage and heating tank 13. Thus, when the system is actuated todischarge heated water, the collected expansion water or other fluid inthe expansion chamber 65a will be aspirated with incoming raw water orother fluid being delivered to the storage and heating tank 13 throughline 31a.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 19 the dispensing head 100 is also provided witha balancing passage 85a which is formed when the annular plastic member41a is assembled in position on the base member 220. This balancingpassage 85a is formed by a partition 101a and a rib means as at 102awhich also maintain a fluid tight seal between the discharge passage 33aand the balancing passage a. The balancing passage 850 has a balancingport 86a disposed at the lower most point of the expansion chamber 65a.

As indicated at 980 a sealing means similar to 98 as shown in FIG. 14 isprovided.

The balancing passage 85a so formed by the annular plastic member 41a ofthe remote dispensing head 100 will thus communicate at one end with thebalancing port 86a and at the opposite end with the inlet line 31a at apoint beyond where the inlet line receives raw water or other fluid fromthe valve assembly 23 for delivery to the storage and heating tank 13when the valve assembly 23 is actuated to open position as has beenabove described for the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 14 ofthe drawings.

At the static conditions; when heated fluid or water expands in thestorage and heating tank 13; the spout 34, the associated discharge line32a, the tank 13, the associated inlet line 31a, balancing passage 85a,balancing port 86a and expansion chamber 65a act like a U-tube. Sincethe surfaces of the expanded fluid at both points of this simulatedU-tube are subjected to atmospheric pressure expanded fluid or waterwill pass through the balancing passage 85a and balancing port 860 intothe expansion chamber 650.

As in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 14, the spout willbe so designed that when expansion fluid or water exceeds the volumericcapacity of the expansion chamber and the associated lines and passagesof the simulated U-tube further expansion fluid will be discharged fromthe system through the spout by reason of the difference in theelevation between the upper surface of the expansion chamber 65a and thehighest point of the lower side of the inner wall of the spout.

Conversely, when the system is actuated to discharge heated fluid fromthe storage and heating tank 13 by displacement in the same manner ashas been described above, the velocity of the incoming water or rawfluid passing to the inlet line 31a will act to aspirate collectedexpansion water or other fluid from the expansion chamber 65a throughthe balancing port 86a and balancing passage 85a connected thereto.

In the absence of any means to stop aspiration, after the expansionwater is emptied from the expansion chamber 65a as in the prior artdevices air would normally be added to the incoming water or fluidpassing through the inlet line 31a to the storage and heating tank 13.

The addition of such air into the storage and heating tank is a definitedisadvantage to the system because it will cause partial filling of thetank after the inlet valve is closed and this tank condition on the nextopening of the inlet valve results not only in delayed flow of heatedfluid but delivery of an indeterminant volume of fluid from the tank.

The present construction therefore also provides a shut off arrangementidentical to that shown in FIGS. 6,7,9 and 11 to 14 of the drawings toprevent this from occurring.

Since the shut off arrangement or assembly is identical it requires nofurther description.

In operation when the incoming raw water or other fluid has aspiratedall of the collected expansion water or other fluid from the expansionchamber to the predetermined minimum level where the float means 91awill seat on the balancing port 86a as is illustrated at FIG. 19 of thedrawings, the balancing port will be closed and further aspiration ofexpansion fluid or air will be prevented.

From the foregoing, it is readily seen that the present inventionconstitutes a relatively inexpensive and yet convenient system forsafely maintaining an instant supply of hot water for either acommercial or domestic installation which operates at atmosphericpressure so that any danger or malfunction of the system will notproduce damage or inconvenience to the user.

Further, the remote dispensing heads for such system as aboveillustrated overcome the problems of the prior art devices formerly usedwith such systems.

While the foregoing description discloses a preferred embodiment, itwill be understood that certain changes and modifications may be made inthese forms of the invention as disclosed without departing from thespirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing head for a heated fluid dispensing system operating atatmospheric pressure having a storage and heating tank, and a fluid flowmeans for delivering the raw fluid to be heated to the storage andheating tank and for passing heated fluid displaced from the storage andheating tank to the remote dispensing head to be dispensed comprising:

a. a housing including, a base portion having means for connecting thedispensing head to any suitable point of use remote from the storage andheating tank, an annular plastic portion connectable to the base portionto form an expansion chamber in the dispensing head vented toatmosphere, and spout means on the annular plastic portion connected tothe fluid flow means for dispensing fluid from said system,

b. the housing having passage means at substantially the lowest partthereof connecting the expansion chamber to the fluid flow means,

c. aspirating means in said fluid flow means operatively associated withsaid passage means for aspirating fluid from said expansion chamberthrough said passage means when heated fluid is displaced from the fluiddispensing system,

d. and means operable by the level of expansion fluid in said expansionchamber to close said passage means when expansion fluid has beensubstantially discharged from the expansion chamber.

2. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim'l wherein the base portionof the housing is made of a corrosionresistant material, and the annularplastic portion is coated with a desired finish.

3. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means operableby the level of the fluid in the expansion chamber includes, seat meansformed in said passage means, and means disposed to seat on said seatmeans for closing the passage means when the expansion fluid reaches apredetermined minimum level in said expansion chamber.

4. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means operableby the level of expansion fluid in the expansion chamber includes,

a. seat means in the end of the passage in communication with theexpansion chamber,

b. a guide means about said seat means in communication with expansionfluid therein,

c. and float means disposed in said guide means disposed to rise andfall with the change in level of the expansion fluid in the expansionchamber and operable to engage the seat means when the expansion fluidreaches a predetermined minimum level.

5. In a remote dispensing head for a heated fluid dispensing system asclaimed in claim 1, including,

a. spout means in said dispensing head for discharging heated fluid fromthe system,

b. and the passage means in the housing is connected at the end remotefrom the expansion chamber to the spout means whereby expansion fluidcollected in said expansion chamber will be aspirated therefrom by theflow of heated fluid being dispensed from the spout means.

6. In a remote dispensing head for a heated fluid dispensing system asclaimed in claim 1 including,

a. an inlet line in the fluid flow means for delivering raw fluid to beheated to the storage and heating tank,

b. and the passage means in the housing is connected at the end remotefrom the expansion chamber to the inlet line whereby expansion fluidcollected in the expansion chamber will be aspirated therefrom by theflow of raw inlet water being delivered to the storage and heating tank.

7. A dispensing head for a heated fluid dispensing system operating atatmospheric pressure disposed remote from the storage and heating tankfor the system comprising,

a. a housing including, a base having means for connecting thedispensing head to any suitable point of use remote from the storage andheating tank, an annular plastic member connected to said base to forman expansion chamber therewith vented to atmosphere, and a fluid flowmeans for delivering raw fluid to be heated to said storage and heatingtank and for passing fluid displaced from the storage and heating tankto the housing,

b. spout means connected to said housing and disposed in communicationwith the fluid flow means in said dispensing head for discharging heatedfluid therefrom,

c. the housing has transverse passage means at substantially the lowestpart thereof in communication at one end with the fluid flow means andat the other end with the vented expansion chamber,

(1. aspirating means in said fluid flow means operatively associatedwith said transverse passage means for aspirating collected expansionfluid from said expansion chamber through said passage means when heatedfluid is discharged through said spout means,

e. and means operably by the level of collected expansion fluid in saidexpansion chamber to close said transverse passage means when expansionfluid has been substantially emptied from the expansion chamber.

8. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 7 wherein the annularplastic member includes, a central section having ports and passages,and seal means on said central section about the ports and passages forforming a fluid tight seal with the base.

9.In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 7 wherein the base portion ofthe housing is made of a corrosionresistant metal, and the annularplastic portion is coated with a metallic finish.

10. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 7 wherein the meansoperable by the level of the fluid in the expansion chamber includes,seat means formed in said passage means, and means disposed to seat insaid seat means for closing the passage means when the expansion fluidreaches a predetermined minimum level in said expansion chamber.

11. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 7 wherein the meansoperable by the level of expansion fluid in the expansion chamberincludes,

a. seat means in the end of the passage means in communication with theexpansion chamber,

b. a guide means about said seat means in communication with expansionfluid therein,

c. and float means disposed in said guide means disposed to rise andfall with the change in level of the expansion fluid in the expansionchamber and operable to engage the seat means when the expansion fluidreaches a predetermined minimum level.

12. A dispensing head for a heated fluid dispensing system operating atatmospheric pressure and having a storage and heating tank comprising:

a. a housing including, a base having means for connecting thedispensing head to any suitable point of use remote from the storage andheating tank, and an annular plastic member connected to said base toform an expansion chamber therewith vented to atmosphere,

b. an inlet line connected between the housing and the storage andheating tank for delivering raw fluid to said storage and heating tank,

c. the housing having passage means at substantially the lowest partthereof in communication at one end with the inlet line and at the otherend with the vented expansion chamber,

(1. aspirating means in said inlet line operatively associated with saidpassage means for aspirating collected expansion fluid from saidexpansion chamber through said passage means when raw fluid is deliveredto the storage and heating tank,

e. and means operable by the level of collected expansion fluid in saidexpansion chamber to close said passage means when expansion fluid hasbeen substantially emptied from the expansion chamber.

13. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 12 wherein the base portionof the housing is made of a corrosion-resistant material, and theannular plastic portion is coated with a desired finish.

14. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 12 wherein the meansoperable by the level of the fluid in the expansion chamber includes,seat means formed in said passage means, and means disposed to seat insaid seat means for closing the passage means when the expansion fluidreaches a predetermined minimum level in said expansion chamber.

15. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 12 wherein the meansoperable by the level of expansion fluid in the expansion chamberincludes,

a. seat means in the end of the passage means in communication with theexpansion chamber,

b. a guide means about said seat means in communication with expansionfluid therein,

c. and float means disposed in said guide means disposed to rise andfall with the change in level of the expansion fluid in the expansionchamber and operable to engage the seat means when the expansion fluidreaches a predetermined minimum level.

16. In the annular plastic member as claimed in claim 15, wherein,

a. spout means is formed in the cylindrical body having a discharge portin the cylindrical body in communication with the spout means,

b. a discharge passage in the cylindrical body in communication with thedischarge port,

c. and said passage means has the end remote from the end incommunication with the expansion space connected to the dischargepassage.

17. In the annular plastic member as claimed in claim 15 wherein theannular plastic member has means forming a decorative finish on theouter surface thereof.

18. In an annular plastic member as claimed in claim 15 wherein thecentral core is provided with a seal means for effecting a fluid tightseal when the annular plastic member is in assembled position on theremote dispensing head.

19. In hot water system having a heating tank at substantiallyatmospheric pressure to provide a hot water supply, and a remotedispensing head,

a. a discharge passageway formed in said remote dispensing head,

b. first conduit means to connect the discharge passageway to theheating tank,

c. second conduit means in the remote dispensing head connected to asource of water at pressure above atmospheric pressure,

d. third conduit means communicating between said second conduit meansand the heating tank,

e. valve means interposed in said second conduit means operable toregulate the flow of water from the source to the third conduit means,

f. means on the remote dispensing head for operating the valve means toinititate flow of the pressurized fluid to displace hot water from theheating tank to the discharge passage,

g. means forming a vented expansion chamber in said remote dispensinghead,

h. passage means in said remote dispensing head communicating at one endwith said vented expansion chamber and at the other end with at leastone conduit means,

i. aspirating means in said at least one conduit means operativelyassociated with the passage means to permit collected expansion water insaid expansion chamber to be aspirated therefrom through said passagemeans when hot water is discharged from the hot water system,

j. and means operable by the level of expansion fluid in said expansionchamber to close said passage means when expansion fluid has beensubstantially discharged from the expansion chamber.

20. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 19 wherein the meansoperable by the level of expansion fluid in the expansion chamberincludes,

a. seat means in the end of the passage in communication with theexpansion chamber,

21. In a hot water system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the passagemeans is connected to the first conduit means.

22. In a hot water system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the passagemeans is connected to the third conduit means.

1. A dispensing head for a heated fluid dispensing system operating atatmospheric pressure having a storage and heating tank, and a fluid flowmeans for delivering the raw fluid to be heated to the storage andheating tank and for passing heated fluid displaced from the storage andheating tank to the remote dispensing head to be dispensed comprising:a. a housing including, a base portion having means for connecting thedispensing head to any suitable point of use remote from the storage andheating tank, an annular plastic portion connectable to the base portionto form an expansion chamber in the dispensing head vented toatmosphere, and sPout means on the annular plastic portion connected tothe fluid flow means for dispensing fluid from said system, b. thehousing having passage means at substantially the lowest part thereofconnecting the expansion chamber to the fluid flow means, c. aspiratingmeans in said fluid flow means operatively associated with said passagemeans for aspirating fluid from said expansion chamber through saidpassage means when heated fluid is displaced from the fluid dispensingsystem, d. and means operable by the level of expansion fluid in saidexpansion chamber to close said passage means when expansion fluid hasbeen substantially discharged from the expansion chamber.
 2. In adispensing head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base portion of thehousing is made of a corrosion-resistant material, and the annularplastic portion is coated with a desired finish.
 3. In a dispensing headas claimed in claim 1 wherein the means operable by the level of thefluid in the expansion chamber includes, seat means formed in saidpassage means, and means disposed to seat on said seat means for closingthe passage means when the expansion fluid reaches a predeterminedminimum level in said expansion chamber.
 4. In a dispensing head asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the means operable by the level of expansionfluid in the expansion chamber includes, a. seat means in the end of thepassage in communication with the expansion chamber, b. a guide meansabout said seat means in communication with expansion fluid therein, c.and float means disposed in said guide means disposed to rise and fallwith the change in level of the expansion fluid in the expansion chamberand operable to engage the seat means when the expansion fluid reaches apredetermined minimum level.
 5. In a remote dispensing head for a heatedfluid dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, including, a. spout meansin said dispensing head for discharging heated fluid from the system, b.and the passage means in the housing is connected at the end remote fromthe expansion chamber to the spout means whereby expansion fluidcollected in said expansion chamber will be aspirated therefrom by theflow of heated fluid being dispensed from the spout means.
 6. In aremote dispensing head for a heated fluid dispensing system as claimedin claim 1 including, a. an inlet line in the fluid flow means fordelivering raw fluid to be heated to the storage and heating tank, b.and the passage means in the housing is connected at the end remote fromthe expansion chamber to the inlet line whereby expansion fluidcollected in the expansion chamber will be aspirated therefrom by theflow of raw inlet water being delivered to the storage and heating tank.7. A dispensing head for a heated fluid dispensing system operating atatmospheric pressure disposed remote from the storage and heating tankfor the system comprising, a. a housing including, a base having meansfor connecting the dispensing head to any suitable point of use remotefrom the storage and heating tank, an annular plastic member connectedto said base to form an expansion chamber therewith vented toatmosphere, and a fluid flow means for delivering raw fluid to be heatedto said storage and heating tank and for passing fluid displaced fromthe storage and heating tank to the housing, b. spout means connected tosaid housing and disposed in communication with the fluid flow means insaid dispensing head for discharging heated fluid therefrom, c. thehousing has transverse passage means at substantially the lowest partthereof in communication at one end with the fluid flow means and at theother end with the vented expansion chamber, d. aspirating means in saidfluid flow means operatively associated with said transverse passagemeans for aspirating collected expansion fluid from said expansionchamber through said passage means when heated fluid is dischargedthrough said spout means, e. and means operably By the level ofcollected expansion fluid in said expansion chamber to close saidtransverse passage means when expansion fluid has been substantiallyemptied from the expansion chamber.
 8. In a dispensing head as claimedin claim 7 wherein the annular plastic member includes, a centralsection having ports and passages, and seal means on said centralsection about the ports and passages for forming a fluid tight seal withthe base.
 9. In a dispensing head as claimed in claim 7 wherein the baseportion of the housing is made of a corrosion-resistant metal, and theannular plastic portion is coated with a metallic finish.
 10. In adispensing head as claimed in claim 7 wherein the means operable by thelevel of the fluid in the expansion chamber includes, seat means formedin said passage means, and means disposed to seat in said seat means forclosing the passage means when the expansion fluid reaches apredetermined minimum level in said expansion chamber.
 11. In adispensing head as claimed in claim 7 wherein the means operable by thelevel of expansion fluid in the expansion chamber includes, a. seatmeans in the end of the passage means in communication with theexpansion chamber, b. a guide means about said seat means incommunication with expansion fluid therein, c. and float means disposedin said guide means disposed to rise and fall with the change in levelof the expansion fluid in the expansion chamber and operable to engagethe seat means when the expansion fluid reaches a predetermined minimumlevel.
 12. A dispensing head for a heated fluid dispensing systemoperating at atmospheric pressure and having a storage and heating tankcomprising: a. a housing including, a base having means for connectingthe dispensing head to any suitable point of use remote from the storageand heating tank, and an annular plastic member connected to said baseto form an expansion chamber therewith vented to atmosphere, b. an inletline connected between the housing and the storage and heating tank fordelivering raw fluid to said storage and heating tank, c. the housinghaving passage means at substantially the lowest part thereof incommunication at one end with the inlet line and at the other end withthe vented expansion chamber, d. aspirating means in said inlet lineoperatively associated with said passage means for aspirating collectedexpansion fluid from said expansion chamber through said passage meanswhen raw fluid is delivered to the storage and heating tank, e. andmeans operable by the level of collected expansion fluid in saidexpansion chamber to close said passage means when expansion fluid hasbeen substantially emptied from the expansion chamber.
 13. In adispensing head as claimed in claim 12 wherein the base portion of thehousing is made of a corrosion-resistant material, and the annularplastic portion is coated with a desired finish.
 14. In a dispensinghead as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means operable by the level ofthe fluid in the expansion chamber includes, seat means formed in saidpassage means, and means disposed to seat in said seat means for closingthe passage means when the expansion fluid reaches a predeterminedminimum level in said expansion chamber.
 15. In a dispensing head asclaimed in claim 12 wherein the means operable by the level of expansionfluid in the expansion chamber includes, a. seat means in the end of thepassage means in communication with the expansion chamber, b. a guidemeans about said seat means in communication with expansion fluidtherein, c. and float means disposed in said guide means disposed torise and fall with the change in level of the expansion fluid in theexpansion chamber and operable to engage the seat means when theexpansion fluid reaches a predetermined minimum level.
 16. In theannular plastic member as claimed in claim 15, wherein, a. spout meansis formed in the cylindrical body having a discharge port in thecyLindrical body in communication with the spout means, b. a dischargepassage in the cylindrical body in communication with the dischargeport, c. and said passage means has the end remote from the end incommunication with the expansion space connected to the dischargepassage.
 17. In the annular plastic member as claimed in claim 15wherein the annular plastic member has means forming a decorative finishon the outer surface thereof.
 18. In an annular plastic member asclaimed in claim 15 wherein the central core is provided with a sealmeans for effecting a fluid tight seal when the annular plastic memberis in assembled position on the remote dispensing head.
 19. In hot watersystem having a heating tank at substantially atmospheric pressure toprovide a hot water supply, and a remote dispensing head, a. a dischargepassageway formed in said remote dispensing head, b. first conduit meansto connect the discharge passageway to the heating tank, c. secondconduit means in the remote dispensing head connected to a source ofwater at pressure above atmospheric pressure, d. third conduit meanscommunicating between said second conduit means and the heating tank, e.valve means interposed in said second conduit means operable to regulatethe flow of water from the source to the third conduit means, f. meanson the remote dispensing head for operating the valve means to inititateflow of the pressurized fluid to displace hot water from the heatingtank to the discharge passage, g. means forming a vented expansionchamber in said remote dispensing head, h. passage means in said remotedispensing head communicating at one end with said vented expansionchamber and at the other end with at least one conduit means, i.aspirating means in said at least one conduit means operativelyassociated with the passage means to permit collected expansion water insaid expansion chamber to be aspirated therefrom through said passagemeans when hot water is discharged from the hot water system, j. andmeans operable by the level of expansion fluid in said expansion chamberto close said passage means when expansion fluid has been substantiallydischarged from the expansion chamber.
 20. In a dispensing head asclaimed in claim 19 wherein the means operable by the level of expansionfluid in the expansion chamber includes, a. seat means in the end of thepassage in communication with the expansion chamber, b. a guide meansabout said seat means in communication with expansion fluid therein, c.and float means disposed in said guide means disposed to rise and fallwith the change in level of the expansion fluid in the expansion chamberand operable to engage the seat means when the expansion fluid reaches apredetermined minimum level.
 21. In a hot water system as claimed inclaim 19 wherein the passage means is connected to the first conduitmeans.
 22. In a hot water system as claimed in claim 19 wherein thepassage means is connected to the third conduit means.